Next phase of consultation on setting up of a town council for Durham and possibly a parish council for Newton Hall starts today. Below is council press release.

This will affect several hundred households in Framwellgate Moor on Westcott Drive area, Around Brackenfield Road and also some houses near Aykley Heads. For these houses it probably makes more sense for them to be part of Framwellgate Moor Parish Council rather than a new Durham town council.

Council press release:

The next stage of a consultation on the creation of new parish councils in Durham City and Crook will begins today (Mon, 2 April).

Durham County Council is looking at options for the future governance of the two areas following requests from residents.

An initial consultation on outline proposals took place at the end of last year and the feedback received has now been used to prepare more detailed proposals.

The second phase of the consultation, which runs from today until Thursday, 31 May, will give residents the chance to comment on these options.

Cllr Simon Henig, Leader of Durham County Council, said: “We are grateful to everyone who responded to the initial consultation. This is an extremely important review of the way in which a range of services in Durham City and Crook will be managed in the future.

“The next stage of consultation provides a number of options which are being put forward in direct response to the feedback we received during the first stage.

“Once again, I would strongly urge residents and all other interested parties to take part and put forward their views.”

Householders should receive their new consultation documents in early April. Further information on the consultation, including the full draft recommendations for each area, is available at www.durham.gov.uk/communitygovernance